ne could hope to
witness, and I was deeply interested.

Then suddenly a man called out hoarsely that he had been
stabbed--murdered. There were yells from the street and screams from
the windows. My lantern-bearer plucked me madly by the sleeve. I
understood him, and we hastily left the neighbourhood.

I may tell now what had happened and what followed this affair of the
night. A worthy citizen had been stabbed to death indeed. After
further skirmishes his comrade citizens had taken several wretches
into custody. They were tried for the murder and all acquitted save
one. Of this latter it was proven that the brawl had started through
his attempt to gain the purse of a passing citizen, and forthwith he
was sentenced to be hanged for murder. His companion rascals were sent
to prison for long terms on the expectation that one of them really
might have been the murderer.

We passed into another street, where each well-lighted window framed
one or more painted hussies who called out in jocular obscenity, but
when we marched stiffly on without replying their manner changed, and
they delivered at us volley after volley of language incredibly foul.
There were only two of these creatures who paid no heed, and their
indifference to us was due to the fact that they were deeply engaged
in a duel of words, exchanging the most frightful, blood-curdling
epithets. Confident drunken men jostled us from time to time, and
frequently I could see small, ashy-faced, ancient-eyed youths dodging
here and there with food and wine. My lantern-bearer told me that the
street was not quite awake; it was waiting for the outpourings from
the taverns and mug-houses. I bade him hurry me to the "Red Slipper"
as soon as possible, for never have I had any stomach for these tawdry
evils, fit as they are only for clerks and sailors.

We came at length to the creaking sign of the "Red Slipper." A great
noise came from the place. A large company was roaring out a chorus.
Without many words I was introduced into the room in which the
disturbance was proceeding. It was blue with smoke, and the thundering
chorus was still unfinished. I sank unnoticed into a quiet corner.

I was astonished at the appearance of the company. There were many men
who looked like venerable prelates, and many men who looked like the
heads of old and noble houses. I laughed in my sleeve when I
remembered I had thought to find Paddy and Jem here. And at the same
time I saw them up n